PRIMARY LIVER CANCER
angiosarcoma - a rare cancer that originates in the blood vessels of the liver.
cholangiocarcinoma - a cancer that originates in the lining of the bile channels in the liver or in the bile ducts.
fibrolamellar - a variant of hepatocellular carcinoma that usually occurs in young patients between ages 20 to 40.
hepatoblastoma - a common cancer in infants and children, sometimes causing the release of hormones that result in early puberty.
hepatocellular carcinoma - primary liver cancer
Cancer that starts in the liver is called primary liver cancer, or hepatocellular cancer. It is relatively uncommon in the United States, but very common in other parts of the world. Approximately 20,000 cases of primary liver cancer are diagnosed in the United Sates each year and have been steadily increasing in incidence.
Primary liver cancer occurs when cancerous tumors grow within the liver tissue or in the bile ducts within the liver. Although liver cancer is a serious disease that is often diagnosed late in its course, advances in treatments in the past several years have given many patients an improved outlook.
Localized resectable: Cancer is found in one place in the liver and can be totally removed in an operation.
Localized unresectable: Cancer is found only in one part of the liver, but the cancer cannot be totally removed.
Advanced: Cancer has spread through much of the liver or to other parts of the body.
Recurrent: Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has been treated. It may come back in the liver or in another part of the body.